I have been lurking around this site for a while and based on what I have read I decided to purchase a GL1200. I will go out and pick it up today . Its a 1987 GL1200. It has 37k miles on it. It has been kept in a garage. The bike was last registered in 2007. Owner states he started it last year but did not ride it. The bike as a engine oil leak. It looks like it is on the left side coming from the area between the engine and transmission. The other issue is the owner said there is a broken metal fuel hose on the right side of the engine. My questions are:

Do you think the oil and gas leaks would be relatively easy to repair?
Any help on how to do this?
I want to go through this bike top to bottom and ensure that it is safe and in good working order before I am stuck on some back road somewhere. Where should I start? What should I pay special attention to?
Is there a priority of items I should look at?

Is this carb or fuel inj.? Close exam will reveal your fuel leak. Possibly your oil leak may be shifter seal or starter o-ring? Other suggestions if you are unsure would be to look into with the PO as to when your timing belts were last replaced as a failure of these could lead to a costly repair internally, brakes, tires as this is an obvious concern just to name a few things to look at. Good luck and welcome to this site as GS puts a lot of effort here.. and get yourself a manual! There are also "how tos" to assist you here.
Others much more knowledgeable will chime in too.

Unlike a lot of motorcycle and car engines, the engine and transmission are in the same case. If it's coming from the left side, it's a good bet (as mentioned here) that it's the shifter seal, which is relatively easy to replace.

I would suggest that you for starters change the engineoil, coolant, brake and clutchfluids, and oil and airfilters.
Engineoil, coolant, and oilfilter because you never know when it has been done last. Clutch and brakefluids because the are hydroscopic, means they suc up water from the air, causing your brakefluid to boil under breaking = no braking at all!

Well, Its now in my garage until I can get it up and running. The last photo in the list is where the oil leak is coming from.. I drained all the oil out of the system so as not to upset the wife.. A few things I noticed from the initial cleaning is that it looks like it is pretty good shape except for the gas leak and oil leak. As I drained the oil out of it it smelled like gas.. Is this normal? and do you think I need to drop the engine out to get to this seal?

Please let me know what ya'all think.....

Attachments

In the garage....

Left side

From the bottom of this seal is where the pesky oil leak is originating from..

You might want to try snugging the bolts holding the rear cover in place right around that leak...but that could potentially only delay the inevitable: the gasket needs to be replaced on the rear cover, and unfortunately, the engine needs to come out for that.

WingAdmin wrote:You might want to try snugging the bolts holding the rear cover in place right around that leak...but that could potentially only delay the inevitable: the gasket needs to be replaced on the rear cover, and unfortunately, the engine needs to come out for that.

Thank you Sir.. Looking at the bolts that hold that cover on appear that they attempted at one time to tighten them... Well.. I guess the next photos to appear will be me removing the engine....

Do you know if there is much of a difference between a 1986 GL1200 I parts manual and a 1985 parts manual?

Anything I have wanted so far (25 years) I have managed to find at my local Honda dealer, (gaskets and such) there is a supply of used parts on Fleabay usually perfectly good running bikes stripped down bring a lot more money.

SARoss,
Nice looking bike. When wondering if you will get it back together. Take lots of pictures. I just redid my carbs and it sure helped when putting all the vacuum lines back to where they came from. You will be pleased when it's all done. Plus if you run into any snags, you'll find lots of great help here, I have. Keep us posted on that progress.
Mooseman

Enjoy the ride. They are all good, just some better than others.
Mooseman

Well, While I have this this in pieces, anyone have a good option for a radio I can put in it? I was also looking at the rear tail light, I want my bike to standout and be seen at night, any ideas on how to make my bike more visible?

Hi
I am a new owner of a 1984 GL1200 Interstate.Also a new member.I don't think there is a lock on the center stand .All I do is sit on the bike make sure I have good balance and push forward with all my strength and weight.
Lots of luck
Dave
NOTE: I did read something about keeping lot of grease on the center stand

I have trouble rocking my bike off the center stand sometimes. I am 6-4 and about 240. Go figure. I have found that if I stand on the right side and push it off the center stand it comes right off. Just don't loose balance it could be an ugly afair. I always parked mine on the center stand in the garage and then use the side stand the rest of the day. If I can i'll use the centersand when parking over night. Saves that puff of blue smoke on start up. It's a Goldwing thing.
Mooseman

Enjoy the ride. They are all good, just some better than others.
Mooseman